No win, no fee accident & emergency compensation
Be represented by a highly-experienced medical negligence lawyer at no upfront cost to you. Under our No Win No Fee agreement you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of the compensation awarded if your case is successful.
Serious consequences of A&E errors
When an injury or sudden illness occurs, Accident & Emergency (A&E) is usually the first port of call when seeking treatment for yourself or a loved one
However, the nature of A&E treatment means that any errors and delays can have serious – often lifelong health consequences – whilst also impacting on your family.
At Hudgell Solicitors we have settled many cases relating to A&E errors, and have gained a wealth of experience in the field as a result.
If you consider that your treatment fell below a reasonable standard, causing you further harm or exacerbating your illness, you could be eligible for compensation, and our team of specialists can help.
Specialists in accident and emergency claims
At Hudgell Solicitors we have a team of medical negligence experts that specialise in Accident & Emergency claims.
We recognise the deeply personal and varied nature of each individual case, so our aim is always to follow a course of action specific to your situation without taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
We’re able to quickly assess the validity of your claim, through an early review of your medical records, and will support you through the process of obtaining compensation and gaining answers.
We also strongly believe in the importance of rehabilitation and will help you access the care you need, keeping you informed each step of the way, without using confusing medical and legal jargon to ensure your claim for accident and emergency negligence is settled as quickly as possible.
Common A&E diagnosis errors
Working in such an intense, high-risk environment, medical staff in A&E departments can make mistakes which mean the difference between a swift recovery and an extended period of illness, or even life and death.
Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are some of the more common cases we deal with, and can include:
- Misdiagnosing a patient’s condition – This could be due to poor initial examination or by failing to send a patient for appropriate testing (such as X-rays and blood tests).
- Failing to record assessment results – This can lead to further delays in treatment or being treated incorrectly.
- Misreading results of tests or investigations – This can lead to incorrect or inadequate treatment.
- Failing to escalate treatment priority based on a patient’s condition – This can lead to delays and a deterioration of the patient’s illness.
- Failing to recognise the severity of a patient’s condition, such as a head injury, leading to wrongful discharge – This can have severe consequences and can even lead to death.
Common A&E treatment errors
Diagnosis errors can lead to treatment errors and result in terrible consequences. Whilst there are many ways that an individual may be affected by incorrect or inadequate treatment, the following represent types of cases we frequently deal with:
- Failure to detect fractures from an X-ray – Leading to prolonged pain
- Failure to detect foreign bodies – Such as glass, in a skin wound.
- Failure to act on symptoms suggestive of a severe illness – Leading to a worsened outcome.
- Failure to refer to senior doctors – Who have the ability to diagnose and treat complex conditions.
Patient had finger amputated due to lack of care at NHS urgent treatment centre
A care worker who attended an NHS Urgent Treatment Centre in Hull complaining of an infection in his finger had to have it amputated five days later due to a lack of care. A successful medical negligence case was brought against City Healthcare Partnership which, in an out of court settlement, admitted liability and a […]
How to make an A&E claim
Make a claim in six easy steps
Free Initial Advice
Call us, request a callback or complete our online claim form and we will assess whether we think you have a claim.
Funding
We will help you to decide how best to fund your claim. Usually, we will be able to offer you a No win, No fee agreement.
Obtain Medical Records & Medical Reports
We will request copies of your medical records and instruct appropriate medical experts to prepare reports confirming whether your care was negligent and how this caused you injury.
Letter Of Claim
We will send a letter to your healthcare provider with details of your claim, setting out why we think your case was negligent and how this caused you injury.
Prepare Claim Valuation
We will put together a schedule of loss setting out the losses you have incurred and the extent of the injuries you have sustained.
Negotiate Settlement
We will send all the evidence to your opponent inviting their settlement proposals. If we cannot agree a reasonable settlement, we will prepare court proceedings.
Start your claim today
Feel free to give us a call or begin your claim online
Our client reviews
We’re always committed to getting the optimum outcome for you.
FAQs
Why should I make an accident and emergency compensation claim?
A simple enquiry could make a significant difference in relation to compensation. We know that money can’t completely change your situation, but it can make things a lot easier for you.
Physiotherapy costs, travel expenses and recovery of lost earnings are just a few of the losses being awarded compensation can help you with. You could also gain finality and closure, knowing you have received answers as to what happened or went wrong with your treatment.
So don’t delay – speak to one of our expert team today. We’ll be happy to help take the stress out of your situation.
How can Hudgell Solicitors help?
It may be necessary for you to be assessed by an independent medical examiner, which we can arrange through our network of approved experts. They will help determine whether the treatment you received resulted in your illness or injury being made worse. Evidence that you suffered unnecessarily as a result of negligent treatment is highly likely to result in a successful claim and compensation being awarded.
We know it can be a daunting prospect questioning the care and treatment received in an A&E department, where staff are working in a demanding environment to help people recover from serious accidents and illnesses.
However, everyone attending an A&E department in hospital has the right to expect appropriate examinations, to see the appropriate specialists, and receive the treatment they need to make the best possible recovery.
The very nature of the work undertaken in A&E departments makes it vital in a high percentage of cases for nurses and doctors to make a quick and accurate assessment of the injury or illness suffered. Delays in doing so can have a detrimental impact on the future health of patients, and where avoidable errors are made, it is important they are not only compensated for financially, but patients should also be supported in their rehabilitation and future treatment.
Unfortunately, we see far too many cases where errors are clearly made in A&E departments, and hospital Trusts can be reluctant to accept blame and admit to errors. It is in this area that our expertise and experience helps clients through a difficult complaints process to find the answers to how and why things went wrong.
What is the time limit for making a medical negligence claim?
If aged 18 and over, you will typically have three years from the date that the negligence occurred or from the date that you became aware of negligent treatment.
For under-18s, there is no time limit. However, once a child reaches 18, the standard 3 year claim period comes into effect.
Was I properly advised on my treatment options?
Doctors and surgeons are not allowed to carry out any medical treatment unless the patient – or their next of kin – has been fully informed of any potential risks and any alternative treatment options available.
Patients should be fully involved in decisions relating to their medical treatment and be able to make an informed choice about the treatment they receive.
Our team at Hudgell Solicitors has represented many clients who have undergone treatments or been given medication, unaware of potential future complications or issues. Common examples include:
- Failing to inform patients of the potential risks of operations / treatments.
- Failing to warn patients of potential side effects of treatments / medications.
- Failing to inform patient of alternative treatment options.
- Failing to warn of patients of potential complications during /following surgery.
- Failing to inform patients that further surgery may still be required.
- Failing to provide accurate information on the expertise of surgeons.
- Failing to offer options other than surgery.
- Failing to consult fully with mothers / parents on birth delivery plans / options.
Read more about consent here: Failure to Obtain Informed Consent
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Meet our A&E lawyers
Local lawyers at the heart of your community
Chris Moore
Vince Shore
Shauna Page
Kirsty Yates
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Get in touch
Feel free to give us a call or begin your claim online